Photo CreditCarol M. Highsmith Photography
Seafaring Nations - Belgium
Artist
Albert Jaegers
Year1907
Classification
sculpture
Dimensions11 x 7 ft. (335.3 x 213.3 cm)
- Portrayed by an armed female leaning on an antique shield inscribed with the word "Belgium". The sculpture was originally to represent Germany. The shield was inscribed with the word "keil", the insignia of Kaiser Frederick Wilhelm II. But in September 1918, anti-German sentiment ran high in the US, and several public groups protested the display of the enemy insignia and there was agitation to replace the statue. The sculptor suggested changing the name of the piece to "Democratic Germany", but he refused to change the statue, since he had been decorated by Germany and did not wish to be disloyal. After some negotiation, Secretary McAdoo gave the order to remove all insignia, and the word "Belgium" replaced "keil" to symbolize Germany's first victim in World War I. The female figure of Belgium stands in a classic contrapposto position with her proper right leg bent at the knee and slightly ahead of the proper left leg. She wears a tunic and a voluminous cloak which flows down the proper left side of her back continuing around and down the proper right side of her front. The cloak is gathered in her belt on the front proper right. The figure's proper right arm is rested on the branch of a tree which is located behind the figure at the proper right. The proper left hand rests on a shield located at the proper left of the figure. The sculpture is carved from three sections of Tennessee "marble" limestone. The alignment between the large carved stone section and the granite base is fairly regular around all sides.
